Statement from the Vermont DEC Lakes and Ponds Program After the July 2023 Floods.

DEC Lakes and Ponds Program Manager Oliver Pierson sent along this message about potential water quality issues in lakes in flood affected areas.

The Cladocerans, or water fleas, are common freshwater crustaceans. There are over 11,000 described species found around the world. Most of these important zooplankton are found in freshwater, though a few do live in marine waters. Cladocerans are abundant in Vermont lakes and ponds, regardless of waterbody size.

July is Lakes Appreciation Month and a good time to take a moment to appreciate the value and importance of the more than 800 lakes and ponds dotting our landscape.

The Department of Environmental Conservation will be holding one in-person and one virtual public hearing on the proposed wake boat rules in August.

A $500,000 appropriation for the Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) Grant in Aid Program and the restoration of the ANC and Lake Wise positions in the Lakes and Ponds program are included in the State's fiscal year 2024 budget.

Rethink Runoff has recently published the results of their recent survey about residents’ perceptions and habits regarding stormwater runoff.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2023 Lake Seminar: Compliance and Enforcement of Lake Rules – “Who You Gonna Call? Lake Busters!”. A recording is now available.

March and April FOVLAP Board of Director meeting summaries are now available on the website.

It's not easy to share scientific data with non-scientists. Some researchers are translating their data into art - visual and musical - to get their messages out to the world. The Wool and Water Project at the Adirondack Institute uses fiber art to tell data stories from the Champlain Basin.